Nike drops suspended slugger Braun

A Nike spokesman said that the shoe company no longer has a relationship with Braun, who was suspended by Major League Baseball for the rest of the season because of his connection to South Florida anti-aging clinic Biogenesis and performance-enhancing drugs.

The Brewers slugger has lost nearly all of his endorsement deals in the last two years since he has been linked to PEDs. They include Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip cancelling its “Lunch With Ryan Braun” promotion, Wilson and Muscle Milk.

Braun’s name is still on Milwaukee-based restaurant Ryan Braun’s Graffito.

Giants rookie Pugh has concussion

New York Giants rookie right tackle Justin Pugh has been diagnosed with a concussion, ESPNNewYork.com reported Friday.

Pugh was injured during Thursday’s practice in which he took a hit to the head.

Coach Tom Coughlin said Pugh had a headache Friday morning.

“He’s going through all the (concussion) protocol,” Coughlin said. “So he’ll be out until he passes all that protocol.”

Pugh, 23, was taken by the Giants in the first round of the April draft out of Syracuse. He is listed behind starter David Diehl on the team’s depth chart.

Nicks missed his second straight day of practice because of a groin injury. He could be back on Tuesday.

Webster was out with a groin strain.

Steelers CB Allen has minor knee surgery

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen had minor surgery on his right knee Friday.

Allen is expected to be out for about two weeks. He also missed much of the first week of training camp with the knee injury.

“We wanted him to get the surgery done now so he can begin rehabilitating immediately,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “This surgery was a minor procedure and will have no long-term effects on his return to the field. We look forward to his rehabilitation process and having him back on the field in a couple of weeks.”

William Gay will start at cornerback in place of Allen until he returns.

Allen, a fourth round pick in the 2011 draft, played 15 games in each of his first two seasons. Last year, he made three starts and had 38 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.

Romo out for Hall of Fame game

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will not play in Sunday’s Hall of Fame game against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPNDallas.com.

Sunday’s game is the NFL exhibition opener.

Romo is among several starters not expected to play. The Cowboys have five preseason games and their offensive line has not yet jelled because of injuries. The team most likely wants to wait for the offensive line to gain some continuity before putting Romo in a game.

Romo reportedly asked to play, but coach Jason Garrett elected to go with backups instead. Romo had minor back surgery in the offseason but has practiced in short yardage and red zone drills. The surgery reportedly did not factor in the decision to not let Romo play on Sunday.

Defensive end DeMarcus Ware (shoulder), running back DeMarco Murray (hamstring) and wide receiver Dez Bryant (hip and quad) might also not play in the game. Bryant did practice Thursday.

Ailing Federer pulls out of Montreal Masters

Former world number one Roger Federer has pulled out of next week’s Montreal Masters, organisers said on Friday.

Federer, who recently said he was experiencing back trouble, did not give a reason for his withdrawal from the first big tournament of the north American hardcourt swing.

“I am disappointed not to be playing in Montreal next week. It is a great tournament with amazing fans. I look forward to competing there in the future,” twice former champion Federer was quoted as saying on the event website (www.rogerscup.com).

The Swiss, who turns 32 next week, has suffered surprise defeats in his last three tournaments.

Beaten by the 116th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round at Wimbledon, the 17-times grand slam champion also lost to Federico Delbonis in the Hamburg semi-finals and 55th-ranked Daniel Brands on home soil in Gstaad.

Williamson joins Kings coaching staff

The Sacramento Kings added Corliss Williamson to their coaching staff, the team announced Friday.

Williamson, who starred at Arkansas and played two stints for the Kings, rejoins the team as an assistant coach.

Williamson spent the last three years as coach at Central Arkansas, where he compiled a 26-62 record. The team went 13-17 last season, its second-highest win total since moving to Division I in 2006. He also coached at Arkansas Baptist College — two years as an assistant and one as head coach during the 2009-10 season.

Williamson spent 12 seasons in the NBA, which included winning an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

Ex-lineman Frisch charged in insurance scam

Former NFL defensive lineman Byron Frisch was one of four people charged with orchestrating a $50 million insurance fraud scam.

Frisch and his alleged partners are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in San Diego, the Union-Tribune newspaper reported.

Authorities allege false information was used to gather more than $50 million in life insurance policies. The policies were written to unqualified individuals who had no intent of maintaining the policy, allowing the conspirators to collect the death benefit of elderly individuals who believed they were getting free life insurance.